Revolving and folding mobile floating bridge



J. J. PEARSE July 12, 1960 BRIDGE REVOLVING AND FOLDING MOBILE FLOATING Filed June 17, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENToR. fearse HMJLA/f July 12, 1960 J. J. PEARSE 2,944,270

REVOLVING AND FOLDING MOBILE FLOATING BRIDGE Filed June 17, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY M M July 12, 1960 J. J. PEARSE y2,944,270

REVOLVING AND FOLDING MOBILE FLOA'IING BRIDGE Filed June 17. 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 Sheets-Shqet 4 INVENToR. Ja/? f, cznse July 12, 1960 J. J. PEARsE REVOLVING AND FOLDING MOBILE FLOATING BRIDGE Filed June 17. 1957 mmullll'mIl QM. .mm uw Si., ww.

wmf ,vw @w July l2, 1960 J. J. PEARSE 2,944,270

nEvoLvING AND FOLDING MOBILE FLoA'rING BRIDGE Filed June 17. 1957 s sheets-sheet s f INVENTOR 6&72 J Peans'e ,4mm/Ens' IIIII I nited States REvoLvmG AND FoLDnsrG MOBILE FLoA'rlNG BRIDGE 'Ihe invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes rwithout the payment of any royalty thereon.

This -invention relates to ariioating, mobile bridge, particularly useful for military purposes.

Military operations in time of war require rapid trans-- portability of troops 4and materiel over rivers and streams. Man-y times the permanent bridges are'destroyed or damaged beyond use and it becomes imperative to throw up a temporary bridge to effect a crossing. Todays armies travel in the main on Wheels in all sorts of heavy vehicles. Therefore, the temporary bridge must be able to hold comparatively heavy loads. At the same time because of enemy action and time factors, such a bridge must be erected as expeditiously las possible to minimize the risk to personnel building it. Additionally, such a bridge must be capa-ble of being transported to the river crossing as rapidly as possible.

After use at any particular site, many times the bridge must be knocked down and ready for use at another place as the need arises. p

At the present time, pontoon'bridges' of one sort or lanother are often used to provide the type of temporary bridge described. The most common of these employs a Aseries of pontoons which are maneuvered into Athe-water to ride into the current. They are then connected yto each other by means of cables, generally at the upstream end, and over them is placed a bridge deck. The bridge deck is ,hauled independently of the pontoons and must be` assembled piecemeal across the's'tre'am from theY near bank. WhereY attempts have:l been `made to provide an integral unit bridge section to obviate the diiiiculty of assembly at the site, a great decrease in lateral stability has resulted.

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4Another object of the invention is tovp'rovide a vehicular pontoon having an overall width that does not exceed the width of one traiiic lane of a highway, and having a rotatable deck which can be securedlengthwise upon such pontoon when in transport so as not to extend beyond the width of the pontoon.

A furtherrobjects of the invention is to provide a bridge deck for a mobile bridge whose sides fold inwardly upon itself to restrict the Atransportable width to that` of its pontoon.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a lbridge of the class herein described comprising a vmiddle section Iandtwo like end sections whereby the f bridge may be launched and retrieved from either end.

y Y' as shown in Fig.. 4.

' The present invention 1s intended to overcome the problem of slow assembly at the site by providing an integrated unit of pontoon and bridge deck which needs only a minimum of handling at the site to assemble and disassemble. Further, the invention is designed so as to give an excellent load performance when in use as a bridge without sacricing transportability.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a pontoon bridge that is its own trailer `for easy high'way travel or travel over other suitable terrain using the conventional tractor truck, for example, `for motive powerand which can be quickly launched and connected to simi-lar units by a minimum crew to bridge bodies of waterupon Which supplies and personnel can be transported. p A further object of this invention is to provide a function as part of the bridge. l i.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a bridge of the class herein described whose means of land -transport is entirely removable when the structure is in use as Ia bridge whereby such means are released for movement of other like units.V

It is a `further object of this invention to provide a bridge of the class herein described comprising a multiplicity of interchangeable parts which may be transported individually or collectively and assembled rapidly and easily at any desired location.

, The foregoing and other objects of this invention Will be more apparent from reading the speciiication in conjunction with t-he drawings, forming a part thereof, wherein: f

Fig. l is a top plan view of the bridge in a partly folded condition' upon the transporting prime mover and dolly;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the overall structure;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the bridge in a partlyY folded condition atop the dolly and prime mover;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the dismounted bridge with the deck in position for use;V l

Fig 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the center portion of lthe bridge frame and center pontoon cubes;

Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective view showing a deck stiifener pin ink position through the lugs to hold the deck rigid for use;

Fig. 7 isa central vertical section through the bridge, the parts being inposition was in Pig. 4 infutll linesand showing the folded position` in dotted lines; and- Fig.8v is a' fragmentary detailed section of the parts In the drawings wherein. like members are given the same referencev numeral, the invention comprises, generally, a iloating mobile bridge comprising a pontoon 6 (made up ofconnected Water-tight cubes) and a bridge deck 7 pivotally mounted to said pontoon. The pontoon is detachably mounted on a mobile vehicle. The mobile vehicle may be any powered tractor trailer but preferably it is a prime mover 1 to which the pontoon 6 is attached as a trailer and secured to a reair dolly trailer Zby means Well known-in the art, said dolly having a dolly pole 4 and a release lever 3, so that the dolly may be released from the pontoon `and pulled out from under it. The pontoon has capstans 5 atop it which yare used to turn the pivotable bridge deck 7 from transporting position to load bearing position and return.

The end cubes 6 are shaped so as to provide easy transportab-ility 4and also to give the overall pontoon a boat-like configuration .for easy riding in water. The cubes 6' are Iwater-tight compartments connected together by lock pins 10 which lit through locking elements 11 welded to each cube alternately, the lock pins 10 cooperating with the locking elements 11 in the same man,- ner that the hingepin and Ithe separate leaves of a dou- -ble leaf hinge cooperate to `maintainthe leaves ofthe Patented `vily 12, 1960VY irons l'should'be'bolt'ed 'tothe pontoon wherebythe. individual cubes 6 4making'up the overall pontoon 6,

can -be rapidly and easily replaced.

ri`he two center cubes are separated by verticalV space bars 18 weldedto either side of each cube. This' lis best shown in Fig. 5. The spacing is accomplished 'so' that thecenter pivot pin l mayv be tted into washers lo and pivot pin insert 2S. Said'insert is welded between the center cross channel beams 3i). Pinl'further extends downward into pivot pin holder.l9, whichV has a stop 20' at its downwardly extremity; holder i9 is disposed in the space between the centercubes o' with the upper end'thereof flush withthe tops of the` cubes and the holder is welded to one ofthe facing 'walls of the center cubes 6', as shown/in Fig. 5.x In the'assembledcondition of 'thebridg'e and pontoon the'pin insert 2S is aligned with the pin holder 19"so that 'the pivot pin projects through pin insert Z8 into pin holder i9. In this manner the bridge deck 7v fits on the pontoon orand can be disassembled therefrom by removing pivotpin l5. it can be rotated by the use of .capstans 5 from the longitudinal traveling position to the transverse or bridge position. While in the transverse or bridge position, the deck 7 is held in place Ib'y lock pins and pin holders, 24 and 23 respectively, at the four intersections of the outer edges of the pontoon and the bridge deck. The'bridge deck 7 comprises two pairs of complementary I-beams 2o and channel beams 27 intermediate of the longitudinal axis. These lare bisected by I-beams, except for the center portion which has two channel beams 30, already mentioned, and as best shown in Figs. 5 and 8. The bridge deck 7 terminates with rails 17, said rails having male inserts 8 and female counterparts 22 Vat opposite ends. erably arranged as shown in Fig. 7 withY male and female connectors as aforesaid at each end. The bridge deck is covered bly a bridge mat 9. -I-'beam 26 and its complementary channel beam 27 are hinged together with a series of hinges 12, which hinges allow part of the `bridge deck 7 and the rail 17 `to fold back upon the remainder of the bridge deck 7 as shown in Fig. 7 in dotted lines. I-beams 26 contain a plurality ofh'oles for deck stiiener pins 13 which pins tit in order through the l-beam 26, a lug 14 'welded to the Lbeam, a/lulg ld' welded to the channel beam, a second lug 14* Welded to the channel 'beam and a nal lug 14 Welded to the I-bea'm at the bottom of the'Lbeam. The lower two lugs 14 and i4' 'are angledfso as to providerooml for the hinge action. Fig. 6 shows thisv deck stii'ener assembly in perspective, while Fig. 7 shows this structure in the open and closed position.

It is believed that the bridge deck 7, pontoon 6', and prime mover It relationship and cooperation may be more fully understood in studying the complete cycleof op-y eration, starting with the bridge deck' llongitudinally mounted upon the pontoon 6 or transport position and folded upon itself. When in this position the folded portions of bridge deck 7 are preferably lashed vtogether' (not shown) .l Starting Wit-h the folded position, as stated; the bridge is easily transported and bornealong average roads to the water. At this point the pontoon dmay be backed into the water and floated free from its transportation. lihis is accomplished by use of release lever 3011 dolly 2 whereupon the dolly may be pulledback'to shore with use of lever d. In. regard to the dolly release, it need only be stated that it is of standard and `well known construction and it appears appropriate that 'it"be shown diagrammatically as presently disclosed" rather than to devote effort to disclosingwhat Wouldlappear to be ex'- traneous detail; The bridge deck'7 may then be-unlashed,L unfolded and rotated toA the transverse position by..a

4V minimum of two men using capstans 5 attached to the pontoon. through the I-beam 26, `and the lugs 14 and 14 to maintain deck rigidity. Pins 24 are placed in holders 23 to hold the deck 7 in transverse position. The sections are now ready for connection. to .other sections to form the bridge. This is accomplished by the sections coming together with! 1 the.l male', insertsy ,8.v tting into gtheir female counterparts Z2 anda `:pinrlckingrthem together at 25. The sections maybe anchored. in .the conventional manner by use of pontoon anchor wire connected to shore-connectedsuspendedfcables .(i'1otsh`own).`` Mooring hooks 29 can be used for Vthis purpose. The oats may be anchored in thisman'ner'to bothtupstream and downstream` suspended cables.: As regards. the .use-vof capstans 5, a tie rope or cable end is snubbed around the drum of the capstan and is payed into the drum by use of a horizontally' extending handlevwith `an upright section .for

grippingby-thehand. A brake lock, ,which may Abe'ofv the-Upawl and ratchet type,.is.used to lock the capstan,

when the desired length. of tie has been` attained.

When the use forthe .bridge is ended at any particular site, the'sectionscanbe vunhooked and Vhauled to shore where they can-be connected (at either end) to 'a dolly and a prime mover, the bridge deckrotated to the longitudinal position, folded, lashed and hauled speedily to the next site.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asv new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

A1. A` oating mobile bridge assembly adapted forV connection to atractor truck at one end and adapted toV be supported at the other end by a removable rear dolly, said'bridgeV assembly comprising a plurality of shaped water-tight compartments, each compartment detachably connected to an adjacent compartment to form an elongated integral unit, a bridge deckrcentrally rotatably mounted upon said assembly by ay pin journaled in a pin.

deckportion disposed along eachside of said bridge` deck parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, a pairvof complementarymembers extending alongieach longitudinalV side of saidbridge deck, each pairof .said comple mentary: members comprising lan `I-bearn Ysecuredto said bridge deck and a` channel beam securedto an Yadjacent `oneof said foldable deck portions, a pluralityl of hinges connecting the I-beam and thefchannel beamcf each pairof said'co-mplementary members toy permit folding each Vsaid foldable deckfportion onto said bridge deck, a plurality of drilled 'lugsattached to the web of the channel beam of each said pair ofcomplementary memberson a side opposite the flanges thereof .and juxtaposed yover each other and a plurality of pins tting through the I-beam tlanges and the juxtaposed lugs` locking each of said foldable deck portions inthe open position, capstans mounted` at either end of said assembly to rotate said bridge deck, and railings extending from the outboard edge of each-of .said foldabledeck portions, said railings having alternate male and female connections'vat'their ends for joining to similar floating bridges.

2,'A bridge construction comprising a main bridge deckv anda foldablev deck portion hingedly secured to each one of apair of vopposite sides of .said main bridge deck, apair of complementary'vrnem-bers extendingalong eachfone'. of saidpair ofopposite-sidesof saidbridge deck, each pair of said complementary members Acomprising an I-beam securedto an outboard edgeoffone of saidpair of;opposite sidesofsaidmain bridgedeck and a channelY beam secured to an inboardfedge. of eachone of said foldable deck portions with the flanges thereof The deck stiiener pins i3 are now insertedJ facing the outboard direction, a plurality of hinges conl said foldable deck portion onto said main bridge deck,

a plurality of drilled lugs attached to the web of the channel beam of each said pair of complementary members on a s ide opposite the anges thereof and juxtaposed over each other and a plurality of pins fitting through the I-bea-m anges and the juxtaposed lugs locking each of said foldable deck portions in the open position, and railings extending from the outboard edge of each of said foldable deck portions, said railings having alternate male 6 and female connections at their ends for joining to similar bridges.

. References Cited in the le of this patent UVNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,640,980 Cami Aug. 30, 1927 2,321,677 Higgins June 15, 1943v 2,376,023 Bailey May 15, 1945 2,687,225 Martin Aug. 24, 1954 10 2,762,069 Laycock v Sept. l1, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 760,159 France Dee. 6, 1933 

